ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER FIVE

Louise is totally helpless as she watches Kid storm away from her. In Kid's eyes she is in a compromising embrace with Jimmy. She tries to get her mind to think on what she should be doing at this point. Her only problem is, is that she can't or simply doesn't want to let go of the man holding her.

Buck stays glued to the ground. He wants to will himself away from the scene before him, but his mind won't allow him to. He stares down at Jimmy still wrapped up in Louise's arms. Buck's eyes are staring right through Jimmy as if they are forcing his separation from Louise.

Jimmy releases Louise and takes hold of her trembling hand. He guides her out of the creek. He can't take his eyes from the Kiowa's saddened eyes. Jimmy also sees strength in those eyes. He knows he's in for a brutal battle with the Kiowa.

Jimmy reaches his clothing and bends down to pick his things up. He doesn't bother dressing. He figures what would really be the point now. For a moment he turns his eyes away from Buck's and gives all his attention to Louise. "I'm sorry about this."

At this point, Louise has her anxiety about Kid discovering her and Jimmy half dressed together under control. She thinks that if she can explain what really happened, Kid will understand and easily forgive her. Her real problem is the concern she has for her feelings toward Jimmy. She had thought they had died a long time ago. Obviously they haven't. "Don't worry yourself about it Jimmy. Kid will get over it."

"Kid might," Jimmy whispered. He forces Louise's attention to Buck who is watching them intensely from the top of the small bank. "But, I don't think Buck will."

Jimmy turns to Charlene and offers her a hand to stand on her feet. He points to the hill. "I think you have visitors."

Charlene turns around to see her sister and brother standing next to Buck. "Hannah! Phillip!" Charlene hollered. She is elated to see the both of them.

"Charlene we need to speak with you," Phillip spoke loudly.

Charlene once again turns to Jimmy for approval. Her eyes are asking Jimmy if it would be all right for her to visit with her brother and sister.
"You can take them over to Buck's house. I'll be over shortly."

"Thank-you Jimmy," She spoke quietly as she reaches to him and hugs him warmly.

Charlene races up the slight incline to reach the top of the bank. She glances over at Buck, but she senses that even the slightest gesture will set him off! She decides against saying hello to him. Instead Charlene turns to her sister and brother and takes a hand from each of them into her hands. The three of them take one last look at the scene before them. All three are thinking the same thing. Jimmy is in hot water, and much hotter than being in the creek with Louise! The three stroll over to Buck's home.

Once Jimmy sees that Charlene is well taken care of, he turns his attention to Louise. "You should gather up the girls and take them inside."

"Buck isn't looking for a fight Jimmy," Louise spoke softly.

"Maybe not with our fists, but I'm positive our words shouldn't be heard by the children."

Louise gathers the girls up along their towels and clothes. The four of them climb up the hill. Louise only glances Buck's way, but his glaring eyes make Louise feel ashamed of what took place in the creek. She looks away from Buck and she heads over to the house with her daughters.

Jimmy stands still for moment while the two young men simply face each other. He wonders if maybe he should explain his actions, but before he can Buck starts in on him about his behavior with one of his friend's wife!

"I hope you're real pleased with yourself," Buck spoke exhaustingly.

Jimmy smiles sadly. "No matter what I say to defend myself, you would punch me in the mouth for it."

"You promised!" Buck's anger is starting to overflow to the surface.

"What did I promise Buck?"

"You promised that you wouldn't come between them!"

We were having a little fun in the creek Buck! It is a hot afternoon today! Where is there a law stating Louise and Jimmy can't be in the creek cooling off at the same time?" Jimmy spoke his anger starting to run away from him.

"It didn't look like the two of you were cooling off! It looked more like the two of you were heating up the creek!"

"You only see what you want to see Buck."

"Look at you Jimmy. You don't have any clothes on. What am I suppose to think?"

"I have clothes on Buck."

"Barely."

Jimmy has had quite enough from Buck. At first he really thought Buck would throw the first punch, but now he feels like throwing the first punch at Buck! He starts to walk away from Buck.

"Jimmy I'm not through talking with you."

Jimmy glances back at Buck over his shoulder. "I'm through trying to defend myself to you."

Buck isn't satisfied that Jimmy was being totally innocent with Louise in the creek. He walks right with Jimmy towards Teaspoon's home.

"Your promises don't mean nothing to you, do they Jimmy?"

"I promised you I wouldn't come between them and I haven't, yet."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is that if you keep accusing me of flirtations with Louise, then I'm going to have a lot more then flirtations with her." Jimmy spoke loud enough for Teaspoon to hear. Teaspoon is resting on a chair in his front yard. Jimmy pokes Buck in the chest. There won't be a damn thing you'll be able to do about it."

"Why don't you just go back from whatever hole you crawled out from under. We don't need your help around here any longer," Buck stated sadly.

"You are so damn naïve Buck! You couldn't see the truth here if it were written out on a piece of paper for you to read. I ain't the only one whose having thoughts of fornication here Buck."

Buck hides his shock over Jimmy admitting that he is thinking of Louise in other ways besides friendship. "Where did you learn such a big word Jimmy?"

Buck doesn't give Jimmy time to answer. He turns and walks away from a man he no longer cares to know.

Jimmy watches Buck as he walks toward his home. He is sure he has hurt all three of his friends. Now Buck knows for sure that he wants Louise married or not.

Teaspoon quietly places his arm around Jimmy's shoulder. Jimmy turns around to see Teaspoon leaning on his crutches.

"I suppose you heard most of that."

"I heard all of it," Teaspoon stated disapprovingly.

"That figures."

"Yeah. That figures is right. You've got deep feelings for Louise, don't you?" Teaspoon asked but he is already aware of Jimmy's answer.

"I always have Teaspoon, but I've always kept them under control."

"Until now. Why are they surfacing now? Louise is a happily married woman, and I might add that she's married to one of your family members."

"She may be married Teaspoon, but you can leave out the word happy when you're describing her marriage to Kid," Jimmy stated flatly.

"Why is that? Do you think it's because you've come back into her life. She isn't in love with you Jimmy or else she would have married you."

"I didn't want marriage."

"Oh. So you're telling me that if you would've wanted marriage six years ago, Louise would have married you instead of Kid?"

"No, I ain't saying that."

"That's what it sure sounds like."

"Doesn't anyone around here see what is going on between the two of them besides me?" Jimmy spoke his voice rising with anger.

"I sense that Kid and Louise are having a few small problems. I don't think those problems are large enough to warrant a separation. Now if you plan on compromising her, and she's feeling neglected because Kid has been so damn busy with the ranch, then I'd say we should all worry about the three of you."

"Are you asking me to stay away from her also?"

"Is that why Buck has gotten himself thrown in the middle of this?"

"I sort of promised him that I wouldn't break the two of them up. But, I only promised because Buck was getting himself worked up about it. To be honest Teaspoon, I don't see anything wrong with Louise and I spending time together."

"Oh and I suppose Kid should thank you for keeping his wife company while he works and repairs the ranch."

"It wouldn't kill Kid to be a little more appreciative of Louise. I think you already know it, and I believe Buck realized it today, that if I decide I can't wait any longer to bed her, Louise would consent and give in to her passion for me."

Teaspoon shakes his head, worried that these strong feelings between Jimmy and Louise will drive a deep wedge between his family. "I can only hope you won't approach Louise with an offer like that. It would surely wreck her and Kid's marriage."

Jimmy doesn't wish to talk about Louise any further. He knows what his feeling for her are, and he may just choose to act on them feelings. Why shouldn't he be allowed happiness? "Teaspoon, I really need to get going. Phillip Anderson is over at Buck's visiting with Charlene. I promised Cody that if I met up with the man I'd ask him a few questions about that arrow he found stuck in his barn door with the note attached to it."

"Alright, go on. There isn't anymore I can say to fix this situation anyway," Teaspoon spoke disheartened.

Buck, Charlene, Hannah and Phillip are all gathered in Buck's living room. Their voices are rather loud. Each one is trying to get his point across to the others concerning Charlene's predicament.

"Our father wants her back in his home! She doesn't belong here with you!" Phillip hollered at Buck.

"She isn't here with me! Don't make it sound like there's something going on between your sister and I! Cause there isn't!" Buck shouted.

Hannah steps in-between the two hot headed men. "Could we just sort this mess out without yelling at each other?"

"Our father wants Charlene back in his home Hannah. You know he'll stop at nothing to do just that," Phillip remarked.

"So your father is bitter that Charlene is staying here. That makes him seem rather guilty in my eyes," Buck spoke without yelling.

"Guilty about what Buck," Charlene asked softly.

"Your father doesn't believe you. He doesn't think Simon Davenport is the one who left you for dead in the alley."

"Then that simply settles it! I will not live in my father's house until he can see the truth about Simon," Charlene spoke gruffly.

"Can I say something here?" Jimmy asked as he enters the room.

"Haven't you already done enough damage for one day?" Buck asked his bad feelings toward Jimmy about to explode.

Hannah faces Jimmy. She extends her hand to shake his. "I am Hannah Anderson." Jimmy shakes her hand and the two let their hands go once they're met. "Standing over by Buck is my brother Phillip."

"Phillip, real good to finally meet you. I've been trying to track you down for days concerning the arrow you found embedded in your barn door," Jimmy spoke easily changing the subject.

"I was out of town."

"Lets get back to why we are all here," Hannah spoke as she gazes at Jimmy. She doesn't want to take her eyes off of the marshal. He seems strong enough to handle her womanly needs!

Jimmy is smitten with the young Hannah Anderson. The woman is a bit more aggressive then her younger sister. She seems like a woman who knows what she wants, and also knows how to get it.

"She's not going anywhere," Jimmy replied before Hannah could say another word on the matter.

"I really think…" Hannah had started to say.

"Let me do the thinking when it comes to Charlene's welfare. She isn't going back to that house. You can come here and visit anytime," Jimmy stated turning his attention to Phillip. "Now about that arrow."

"I don't know what else you want to know about it. I found it lodged in the barn door. There was a note attached telling the army where two soldiers could be found. That's all I know," Phillip replied.

Jimmy accepts Phillip's answer. Why would the man have any reason to lie to him? "Now may I escort the two of you back to your ranch?" Jimmy offers Hannah an escort home more than he does Phillip. He simply realizes that Phillip will be tagging along.

"I really think the two of us can make it home safely. But, thank-you for volunteering your services."

Jimmy reaches over and whispers in her ear. "I have other services I am willing to volunteer for. If you're interested, of course."

Hannah gets a teasingly pleasant smile on her face. "I would love to check out your other services. But, right now my brother and I really need to get back to our ranch before our father throws one of his famous temper tantrums."

Hannah turns to Charlene. "Walk out with us."

Charlene, Hannah, and Phillip leave the house. When they open the front door they are surprised that dusk has fallen over the sky. Hannah stops and turns to face Charlene before she gets onto the buckboard.

"Are you sure you want to stay here?"

"I wouldn't think of leaving at the moment," Charlene spoke with a smile.

Hannah senses that her sister is up to something once again. "What are you scheming this time Charlene?"

"Two words. Buck Cross."

Hannah rolls her eyes and gets up on the buckboard. Phillip has already taken his seat, and is ready to guide the horses away from the ranch.

"Just be careful sis. He may have once been interested in you, but that was long before you became the talk of Rock Creek."

Phillip steers the horses away from the ranch. They leave behind a wanton woman to consider Hannah's last words to her. Charlene smiles restlessly as the buckboard vanishes from her sight. "You know sister, we both always get what we want," she spoke only to amuse her own thoughts.

Simon knows the plan all too well. He is supposed to get Charlene Anderson to fall in love with him. Then he is to marry her, giving him a home that would be his. It would be a place Jesse and his brother Frank could live when they're not out holding up a bank or robbing a stagecoach.

He stumbles out of the swinging doors of the saloon. Jesse is going to be mighty upset that his bride is living with another man. The only good news he has to report is that her father believes he didn't beat the woman up. Simon pegged the man for a fool a long time ago. How could any father doubt his own daughter over a ranch hand? It didn't really matter to him. He just wonders how long Oliver Anderson will continue to have this kind of blind faith in him.

Simon gazes to the schoolhouse and sees that an oil lamp is still burning inside. "Now she sure is a beautiful woman that brand new school teacher," he spoke to anyone that would listen. "I bet she would fall head over heels in love with me. Unlike that tramp of a bride-to-be of mine."

He walks a crooked path to arrive at the front door of the schoolhouse. He pushes the door open with his fists. The door slams against the wall behind it. He stumbles inside. He searches for the warm female body he had seen earlier in the day when she arrived on the stage. He doesn't see her. He notices another room in the back with the door open. He starts to walk towards the door.

The schoolteacher frightened by the sudden slamming of the front door, walks cautiously out to the front room of the school. Her heart is racing as fast as her mind is thinking on what she should do!

Simon lurches himself toward her! She tries to hold him at arms length away from her body, but he insists they get closer! He wraps his arms around her tiny waist, and tries to kiss her. She turns her face away from his lips to avoid the wet, smelly contact he wants with her.

"Please stop this!" she screams at him.

"Don't be so unpleasant like the tramp I'm going to marry," Simon stuttered through his words.

She tries with her arms to push is pressuring body away from her. Her attempts are only causing his grasp of her to be stronger. She pounds her fists into his chest as hard as she can manage. All she receives for her effort is his loud laugh seething with the smell of stale whiskey.

"You're gonna be mine!"

"No! Let go of me!" she yells as loud as her lungs will allow her to.

Cody is at the marshal's office about to mount his horse and ride on home. He stops abruptly when he hears a female screaming. He looks around the streets, but he can't make out where the muffled screams are coming from.

The streets are too dark to see if anyone could possibly be in the streets hurt. This town has far too many damsels screaming out in the night, or too many men that can't keep their hands to themselves.

Cody hears her shrilling scream again. It goes right through him. He notices the light at the schoolhouse. He runs in that direction when she screams out again! The screams are definitely coming from inside the schoolhouse.

Her screams are making him nervous. He figures a lawman will be on his tail in no time flat. He decides his best course of action would be to get out of the building before he ends up in jail. As he releases her to make his escape she knees him right between the legs. He howls out in pain while grasping at his privates, stumbling to get out the back door of the building.

She collapses to the floor holding her dress to her chest. During his attack, he had ripped her dress from her shoulders. She had kept her emotions composed during his attack, but now that he has fled the schoolhouse, she can't seem to stop the tears from cascading like a river down her cheeks.

Cody comes storming through the front door of the schoolhouse! He hears her sobs, and races for the back room. He crouches down on the floor next to her trembling body. He sees that she has been bruised a little, and that she is clutching her dress to her chest! He assumes that the man who attacked her must have raped her just by the sight of her torn dress!

Cody lifts the sobbing tiny woman into his arms. "Lets get you over to Doc Barnes. He'll be able to fix you up." He speaks to her tenderly as if she were a rag doll that can be sown back together again.

She leans into him. She feels safe and secure in this man's arms.

Kid and Louise are standing in front of the steps that lead up to the front porch of Buck's home. Louise has her hands stationed on her hips. Her mannerisms show resentment and irritation.

"I really would prefer that you come home. You are my husband, and even if we are having a slight disagreement, you shouldn't let our fighting pull us apart," Louise spoke snappish.

"I am not the one having thoughts about another woman other then my wife."

"Exactly what is that suppose to mean?" Louise asked angrily.

"It means that you and Jimmy are always starry-eyed when you're in each other's presence. When the whole family is having a conversation, you are the one who is always first to stand up for Jimmy. Jimmy can do no wrong in your eyes, but I can never seem to do anything right."

I stand up for Jimmy because it seems to me that everyone is always ganging up on him," Louise stated boldly.

"I'm staying at Buck's for the night," Kid spoke sadly.

"Fine," Louise spoke irritatingly. She turns away from Kid and storms through her backyard and opens the backdoor to her home that leads into the kitchen.

Once inside, Louise slams the door causing the walls of the kitchen to shake. Rachel, who has been waiting for Louise, is seated at the kitchen table. She has been waiting for Louise to come back over to the house. When Louise enters the kitchen Rachel is startled by Lou slamming the door and the fierce look in her eyes.

Rachel walks over to Louise, and guides her back over to the table. She pulls a chair out for Lou to sit on.

"Teaspoon mentioned to me what took place this afternoon. I thought perhaps you needed someone to listen. What did Kid have to say?" Rachel asked softly.

"He's over at Buck's. He isn't planning on coming home tonight," Louise spoke through silent sobs.

"Oh, I see. That may not be such a bad idea at this point. Isn't Jimmy over there?"

"He disappeared after Hannah and Phillip Anderson left. Buck and Jimmy had a disagreement about Kid and I. I'm thinking Jimmy just needed to get away for a while. Why do you think it's best that Kid spend the night at Buck's home?" Louise asked confused.

:If Kid were here the two of you would only fight and argue. It wouldn't be good for the children to hear their parents fighting.

"I'm a pretty good listener if you want to talk."

"I do, but I'm not sure where to begin."

"The beginning is usually the best place to begin," Rachel smiled knowingly.

"That would probably take us back seven years ago. That is where this scene today really began."

"Do you have feelings stronger than friendship for Jimmy?" Rachel asked hesitatingly almost dreading an answer from Louise.

"I'm not sure. I do know one thing though. I'm terribly jealous of Buck."

Rachel laughs louder than she planned to. She places her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry. Why are you jealous of Buck?"

Because Kid is spending the night with him instead of with me!"

"That doesn't sound good," Rachel spoke seriously wondering what is going on with Buck and Kid that Louise is so distressed over it.

"It isn't like that Rachel." She thinks a moment before continuing. "At least I hope it isn't. I think you know what I'm getting at."

"Yes, I think maybe I do. The two of them share a common goal Louise. They both want to build this ranch into our future. That requires hard work and a lot of time. I had hoped by getting Jimmy to come here and play marshal that that would give Kid a little more free time."

"The only thing bringing Jimmy here accomplished is that Kid has more time to spend with Buck."

Rachel snickers again. "My you are jealous."

"Told you."

"It's getting real late. We'll chat some more tomorrow. Don't fret about Kid tonight. Let him stay with Buck. I know Buck is upset with Jimmy, so I'm sure he's probably trying to convince Kid to come back home."

"Which of my many problems are we going to work on first?" Louise asked disheartened.

"I don't even think Jimmy takes presence over the jealously you're feeling towards Buck."

"I just don't understand men, Rachel."

"I just don't understand women, Buck," Kid spoke disheartened. The two men are seated on the porch steps of Buck's home.

"Don't look at me for answers. I've never understood women," Buck spoke looking a bit confused at Kid's confession.

"Do you think I'm doing the right thing staying over here tonight?"

"I wouldn't send my worst enemy over to stay with Louise tonight."

Kid smiles, but the smile doesn't last long, and Kid becomes too quiet. Buck senses that Kid is dwelling on what took place today in the creek with his wife and Jimmy. He knows that seeing the two of them clinging to each other had to have hurt Kid.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?" Buck asked barely above a whisper.

"Buck, I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust Louise again, Kid spoke somberly.

Buck is at a loss for words. He doesn't know what to say to Kid that would give him comfort. Buck feels that Louise can be trusted as long as Jimmy isn't around to compromise her. "You have to give yourself some time to heal."

"Why? So she can make a fool out of me again!" Kid asked angrily.

Buck arches an eyebrow and looks upset that Kid would holler at him over Lou's actions today.

Kid realizes that he shouldn't be hollering at Buck. It isn't Buck's fault that Jimmy can't keep his mind and hands off his wife. "I'm sorry Buck. I feel like I'm blaming you. It's Jimmy I should be taking all this out on."

Buck slaps Kid lightly on the back. "Don't worry about it. Tomorrow you and Louise can sort everything out. The new day will make everything a lot more clear."

"Buck, what am I going to do if Louise has feelings for Jimmy?" Kid asked tormented by the very thought of this being a reality.

"Kid, don't worry yourself about that. Louise married you. She loves you."

"Then where exactly does Jimmy fit into her life?"

"Jimmy fits into her life when Louise wants you, but you're busy with the ranch."

"You think that's all Jimmy means to her?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Hey Buck, I thought you said that you don't understand women," Kid asked trying to smile.

"I don't. But, I do know how Louise feels about you.

"Thanks Buck."

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